Mysterious, fierce, and teetering on the edge of extinction — the Scottish Wildcat is one of the UK’s rarest and most elusive mammals.

Nicknamed the Highland Tiger, this striking predator once prowled across much of the UK. But today, it's hanging on by a thread.

In this episode, we take a closer look at what makes this cat so special — from its huge personality and charismatic scowl to its deep roots in Scottish culture and folklore. We explore the threats it faces, uncover the reasons behind its decline, and shine a light on the passionate conservationists working to bring this iconic species back from the brink.

Contact:

As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links:

European wildcat | RZSS

Wildcat conservation in Scotland | Saving Wildcats | Saving Wildcats

Wildcat Haven

Wildcats | NatureScot

Wildcats released in Scottish Highlands in effort to prevent extinction in UK | Rewilding | The Guardian

https://treesforlife.org.uk/

Everyone can play a role in conservation, from protecting wildlife to contributing to real scientific research. Volunteering—and its powerful branch, citizen science—is making a real difference for the environment.

In this episode, we explore the incredible impact of these efforts across the UK. From bird counts and river monitoring to tree planting and habitat restoration, passionate people are tackling climate change, preserving biodiversity, and shaping environmental policy.

We also discuss how volunteering benefits individuals and communities—and share our own experiences with these initiatives.

By the end, you’ll probably guess that we’re big fans of volunteering!

We hope you enjoy the episode and would love to hear about your own experiences or projects you’re passionate about.

Contact:

As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links:

The Big River Watch | The Rivers Trust

Home - Earthwatch Europe

Take part in a project | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology

https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do

Join the Great British Spring Clean | Keep Britain Tidy

Big Butterfly Count

From farm to forest: the volunteers planting 100,000 trees in Somerset | Trees and forests | The Guardian

Nature's Calendar - Woodland Trust

The Conservation Volunteers

How are the UK's animals really doing? In this episode, we dive into the IUCN Red List—the world’s most comprehensive assessment of species at risk of extinction—to uncover which of our birds, mammals, invertebrates, fish, and more are struggling.

Some of the findings won't come as a surprise, but others might shock you, as a few of our most familiar and commonly seen birds are in fact on the Red list.

Rather than focusing on a single species, this episode takes a step back to reveal the bigger picture of wildlife decline in the UK. But it’s not all bad news! We also highlight conservation success stories, celebrating species that are making a comeback thanks to dedicated efforts.

Join us as we uncover the challenges, surprises, and inspiring efforts to turn the tide for the UK’s wildlife.

Contact:

As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links:

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Peoples Trust for Endangered Species

UK fish and chip shops are selling endangered sharks, DNA tests prove | Sharks | The Guardian

Vendace and powan | NatureScot

Endangered UK crayfish released into the wild at secret river site in Hampshire | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

The State Of Britain's Moths | Butterfly Conservation

Amid the constant stream of negative headlines, we’re keeping our annual tradition alive and spending an episode reflecting on the positive environmental strides made in 2024!

From newly established marine protected areas to passionate local communities defending nature, this episode is packed with inspiring stories. We've got dam removals, flying scientists teaching birds how to migrate, species reintroductions, and much more.

As we move into a new year, join us for this uplifting look back at the brilliant work being done worldwide to protect and restore our nature. We love recording these episodes as they are a reminder that dedicated people everywhere are working tirelessly to make a real difference for the environment, wildlife, and people — and that is worth celebrating.

What was your favourite positive nature story of 2024? Get in touch, we would love to know 👇

Contact:

As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links

Denmark will plant 1 billion trees and convert 10% of farmland into forest | AP News

Scientists taught this once-extinct bird how to migrate by guiding them across Europe | Euronews

Herd of 170 bison could help store CO2 equivalent of 43,000 cars, researchers say | Rewilding | The Guardian

As Zambia schools take on climate change, one teen is spreading the word in sign language | The Independent

How a tribe brought back its sacred California condors - BBC Future

Japan develops plastic that disappears within hours in the sea and boosts soil health - Times of India

Amazon rainforest: Deforestation rate halved in 2023 - BBC News

Wild tiger population increases in Thailand

Passionate young conservationist, dedicated reptile surveyor and winner of the BBC Springwatch Under 18s Wildlife Hero Award 2024, Reuben Martin joins us on The Birdy Bug Pod.

Grab a coffee and tune in for a fantastic chat with Reuben as we learn all about his conservation work, his love for our native reptiles, the experience of appearing on BBC Springwatch and what it was like getting recognised in public for the first time.

This episode is packed with reptile facts, inspiring projects, and some brilliant stories from Reuben's surveys. In true Birdy Bug Pod style, we wrap up with some heart warming conservation stories, shining a light on the incredible efforts being made to protect and restore our wildlife.

We were thrilled to have Reuben as a guest. Seeing someone so young and passionate making a real difference for nature is truly inspiring.

Make sure you check out Reuben's YouTube channel: Reuben’s Reptiles - YouTube

And don't forget to follow him over on Instagram: @reubens_reptiles

A huge thank you to Reuben and his Dad for travelling down to record with us!

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Timestamps

00:00:00 Meet Reuben Martin

00:06:42 Reuben's wildlife heroes

00:08:40 All about our reptiles

00:15:25 Reuben's conservation work

00:24:51 Winning Springwatch's Wildlife Hero award

00:32:16 Future career & Reuben's YouTube channel

00:38:29 Positive conservation news

00:53:59 What's next & wrap up

Links:

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Garden Dragon Watch | Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Home | Steyning Downland Scheme

https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/help-your-heaths/heathlands-reunited/

Whilst we all know about the tropical rainforests of the world, we often forget the temperate rainforests we have right here in the UK.

Found in the misty valleys and coastal areas of western Scotland, Wales, and south west England, these rainforests are rare ecosystems that support a wealth of biodiversity, from vibrant mosses and lichens to endangered species like red squirrels and pine martens.

Settle in and join us as we explore why these rainforests are so ecologically significant, their historic decline, the threats they face, and the encouraging conservation efforts to protect them.

Have you ever been to one of our temperate rainforests? We'd love to know, comment or ping us a message over on Instagram @thebirdybugpod.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up

00:01:56 Introduction to UK's rainforests

00:23:32 Decline of our rainforests and threats

00:31:14 Rainforest restoration and positive news

00:45:59 Wrap up

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links

Temperate Rainforest in the UK - Woodland Trust

Temperate rainforest - Plantlife

Interactive Map Reveals Britain's Rare And Hidden Rainforests (countryliving.com)

Temperate rainforest | The Wildlife Trusts

Discover Wales’ Extraordinary Rainforest Lichens - Plantlife

Lost Rainforests of Britain

England’s largest temperate rainforest a National Nature Reserve - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Lost rainforest could be revived across 20% of Great Britain | Environment | The Guardian

Pigeons! They're everywhere, but often overlooked and definitely unfairly labelled. Known to some as "rats with wings," pigeons have gained a reputation as pesky, unintelligent city dwellers—but that's far from the full story.

In this episode, we’re giving pigeons the love and respect they deserve. We bust the biggest myths surrounding these birds, explore their fascinating history, and reveal just how intelligent and resourceful they really are. From acing complex intelligence tests to performing life-saving acts of heroism during the world wars, pigeons have a lot more going for them than you might think.

We've got a pigeon quiz, answers to pressing questions like, "Why do they bob their heads when they walk?" and much more! We hope his episode will have you looking at pigeons in a whole new light.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up and introduction

00:04:31 Get to know the pigeon

00:18:32 Pigeons throughout history

00:28:55 Intelligence & navigation

00:38:53 Impact on culture & science

00:42:31 General pigeon appreciation

00:45:55 Pigeon threats

00:49:10 Wrap up

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links

Secret World of Pigeons Timeline (cbc.ca)

Whose coos are whose? The five types of pigeon you’ll see in Britain - Country Life

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - The pigeon: Britain’s most misunderstood bird?

Pigeons Are Secretly Brilliant Birds That Understand Space and Time, Study Finds | Mental Floss

How homing pigeons find their way home - BirdWatching (birdwatchingdaily.com)

What's Up With That: Birds Bob Their Heads When They Walk | WIRED

One of the UK's rarest spiders is coming back from the brink of extinction thanks to a brilliant conservation effort.

Large, scarce, and undeniably striking, the fen raft spider is one of only three British spider species on the Red List and vulnerable to extinction.

But there is good news! A dedicated collaboration of organisations has been working hard to restore our valuable fen habitats and the raft spiders that rely so heavily on them, and the results are promising.

So, grab a coffee, sit back, and join us as we explore the incredible world of the fen raft spider. We uncover fascinating facts about their water-based lifestyle, from running across the surface to diving beneath it, and take a closer look at the conservation success story that’s giving these spiders a fighting chance for survival.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro & catchup

00:07:02 All about raft spiders

00:23:38 Habitat decline & the importance of fens

00:31:47 Conservation & good news

00:45:48 Wrap up

Links:

https://www.dolomedes.org.uk/biology/life_history

https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/fen-raft-spider/

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/blog/suffolk-wildlife-trust/10-facts-about-fen-raft-spiders#:~:text=Fen raft

https://www.britishwildlife.com/article/article-volume-32-number-2-page-98-109/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320700000306

https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands/fens/

Raft spiders (britishspiders.org.uk)